Published: March 8, 2009
In photos: Burnham-On-Sea motorist recounts lorry rescue drama

A quiet drive across the Somerset moors turned into an afternoon of high drama for a Burnham-On-Sea motorist when the rescue of this stranded lorry unfolded in front of him.

Marcus Smith was near Westhay on Friday (March 6th) when he came across this huge juggernaut teetering dangerously on the side of the road.

"Apparently, the driver had pulled in close to the edge to let another vehicle pass from the other direction and the whole thing slipped onto the soft edge," Marcus told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"It had happened at about 11.30am, but there was a delay in the recovery while they waited for two recovery trucks from Chard."

Metal chains were used to prevent the huge juggernaut from toppling over before the recovery operation got underway.

"Once the recovery was completed, the only thing that appeared damaged was the driver's pride and the mud flaps on the lorry and trailer," added Marcus. "I was a HGV Class 1 driver myself and have never seen a lorry at that angle not tip over on its side."